How effective is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is considered the most aggressive type of infusion medical treatment used to kill quickly developing cancerous cells in the human body. Medical treatment chemotherapy is regarded as the most common and effective type of cancer treatment for various types of cancer. Chemotherapy is often administered in conjunction with other medications such as anesthesia, radiotherapy, or hormone therapy and is typically used to achieve objectives such as
There are several chemotherapy medications available used to treat a wide range of tumors. Chemotherapy medications may be used alone or in combination. While chemotherapy is a successful cure for many forms of cancer, it also has a few side effects in a patient. However, all these chemotherapy side effects are minor and can be easily treated.
How is chemotherapy used?
Chemotherapy can be used in multipurpose ways. Sometimes, a doctor may use the therapy to treat cancer by itself, but it is more often combined with other treatment methods if required. These treatment methods include -
- Surgery – A surgeon may use chemotherapy before or after surgery to sink or destroy the cancer cells. Surgery involves the removal of cancerous tumors or tissue or organs affected by cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy – Chemotherapy is also used with radiation therapy to treat cancer in a patient. Radiation therapy involves invisible radioactive particles to destroy or kill rapidly growing cancerous cells. The therapy can be given using a special machine that bombards a patient’s body parts from the outside or puts radioactive material on, around, or even inside your body.
- Biological therapy – Doctors use the therapy to destroy cancer cells in a patient. Living material in the form of bacteria, vaccines, or antibodies is carefully added. The treatment also combined with chemotherapy if required.
Chemotherapy may be used to –
- Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is used to shrink a tumor before radiation treatment or surgery.
- Adjuvant chemotherapy is used to kill all lingering cancer cells following surgery or radiation therapy.
- Improve the efficacy of other treatments (biological or radiation).
- Cancer cells that return or expand to other areas of the body must be destroyed.
How can chemotherapy be given to a patient?
- Injection: Injection is one of the ways for chemotherapy using which the drug is injected directly into a patient’s hip, thigh, or arm, or fatty part of your arm, leg, or stomach, just beneath the skin.
- Intra-arterial(IA): Using a needle or a catheter (soft and thin tube), a chemotherapy drug goes directly into the feeding cancer artery.
- Intraperitoneal (IP): Via a surgery or a tube with a particular port, the drug is delivered into the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity contains organs like the liver, intestines, stomach, and ovaries.
- Intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy: Chemotherapy drug is injected into Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the area surrounding the spinal cord and the brain.
- Intravenous (IV): The chemotherapy drug is injected into a vein.
- Topical: A chemotherapy drug (like a cream) is rubbed onto your skin.
- Oral: A chemotherapy drug is given as a pill that is swallowed.
What is the Chemotherapy cost in Bangalore?
With the aggressive demand for chemotherapy, the treatment cost could be a little high, but it is considered the most preferred cancer treatment in India. Chemotherapy is not a one-day procedure for a cancer patient; it requires several sessions and can result in adverse effects, which are uncommon but still possible. These sessions may take 3 to 6 months to complete the whole treatment procedure or even more than that. Chemotherapy cost in Bangalore may vary on certain factors such as stage & type of cancer, type of chemo drug used to treat cancer, chemotherapy session required, doctor fee and experience, hospital, location, diagnosis tests needed, etc. Considering all these factors, chemotherapy cost in Bangalore may fluctuate between INR 4L to 20L. You can find the best cancer hospital that offers cost-effective chemotherapy on Credihealth.
How Can I find the best chemotherapy hospital?
Credihealth is one of the best healthcare portals that provides you with specific knowledge about the best doctors and hospitals in your region. You can also speak with a Credihealth specialist to get an idea of the cost of your cancer treatment. The precise estimate, however, will be given by the hospital and doctor of your choice. You can also choose the best one based on Customer ratings & reviews available on Credihealth to provide consumers transparency. To book expert advice or any medical assistance, you can raise a call-back request at 8010-994-994 or write an email at support@credihealth.com.